J Korean Soc Plast Reconstr Surg.  1998 Aug;25(6):1067-1074.

Clinical analysis in reconstruction of orbital blow-out fracture using the hydroxyapatite

• Hwang SH
• Bae YC
• Jeon JY
• Hwang SM
• Hwang WB
• Kim DH

Abstract

The blow-out fracture can be reconstructed by various autogeneous and alloplastic material. Particulate, nonresorbable hydroxyapatite is currently one of the choice of implant material available for reconstruction of blow-out fracture. Hydroxyapatite is radiopaque ceramic, physically and chemically similar to enamel and cortical bone. It is a biomaterial derived from natural corals to use as a bone graft substitute. And we looked into the clinical usefulness of 2 type of hydroxyapatite with their advantages and disadvantages in reconstruction of blow-out fracture. 183 patients with blow-out fracture who underwent surgical reconstruction with two types of hydroxyapatite from March 1933 to July 1977 have been analyzed the results of surgical reconstructions, and have been followed up for more than a year. And the condition of formerly inserted hydroxyapatite was observed in the patients who needed 2nd surgical reconstruction due to the enophthalmos. The disadvantages of hydroxyapatite are fragility, size and contour limitations. In spite of these demerits, hydroxyapatite can be one of the prospective materials to reconstruct orbital floor. Through the clinical experiences for 5 years, we have not found any of complications of exposure, infection, and foreign body reaction. Low rates of diplopia, limitation of ocular movement, and enophtalmos was observed. Hydroxyapatite was well adherent to adjacent orbital bone in most patients who needed secondary reconstruction for enopthalmos. In conclusion, our study shows that the availability of hydroxyapattite in reconstruction of blow-out fracture is recommendable, with low complication rates. Hydroxyapatite important appears to be well tolerated, and provides useful alloplastic prosthesis with few problems in reconstruction of blow-out fracture.

MeSH Terms

Anthozoa
Ceramics
Dental Enamel
Diplopia
Durapatite*
Enophthalmos
Foreign-Body Reaction
Humans
Orbit*
Orbital Fractures*
Prostheses and Implants
Transplants
Ceramics
Durapatite